• Empowering Employees is About Coaching Not Managing

    Empowering Employees is About Coaching Not Managing0

    Employee empowerment has been described and defined in many ways but is generally accepted as: the process of enabling an employee to think, behave, act, react and control their work in more autonomous ways, as to be in control of one’s own destiny. Empowerment may not be a new concept to you, but many organizations

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  • Dealing with Concrete Heads

    Dealing with Concrete Heads0

    The term “concrete head’ is the result of a Japanese translation. A concrete head is someone who is resistant to the changes that Lean brings. Obviously this is a derogatory term. I like the image for someone who doesn’t want to get it. But remember concrete takes a while to set-up. Don’t give up too

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  • Lean Leaders Focus on Development

    Lean Leaders Focus on Development0

    Successful leaders understand the difference between things and people in an organization. They know that it’s important to manage things, but that it’s even more important to lead people. Leaders don’t just mouth empty phrases like “people are our greatest resource;” they demonstrate by their actions that people – not strategy, products, plans, processes, or

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  • The Lean Journey is a Climb not a Stroll

    The Lean Journey is a Climb not a Stroll0

    Photo Source: http://www.chriscastaldo.com/2010/12/28/the-way-to-godliness/ Lean Thinking is often described as a “journey, not a destination”. In many regards this is true since the best Lean companies have found that their improvement efforts never end. Each set of improvements result in improved bottom-line results but also exposes more opportunity. This journey toward dramatically improved business performance shares three

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  • 5 Ways Leaders Can Instill New Habits For Employees And Themselves

    5 Ways Leaders Can Instill New Habits For Employees And Themselves0

    When it comes to habits David Mann tells the story of Smokey the Bear’s campfire rules. Douse the fire with water, stir the coals and turn them over, then douse again. Not following the rules of Smokey the Bear you risk the fire restarting itself from the live embers that remain. Cultural habits are very

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  • Fat Attitudes Add No Value

    Fat Attitudes Add No Value0

    My friend and fellow Lean thinker Bob Emiliani coined the term “fat” behavior after those behaviors that aren’t consistent with Lean thinking. Our behaviors lead us to create the systems we consciously or unconsciously use at work, and our systems help shape and reinforce the culture that is in place. Our culture is the foundation for our daily

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